to prohibitthef.a.a. fromclosing149f.a.a. contractcontrol towers due to the furloughing of its air traffic controllers. senator moran is a member of the appropriation subcommittee on transportation. senator blumenthal a member of the transportation committee which both oversee the f.a.a., this is 20 minutes. >> good morning, everyone. thank you very much for joining us on a topic we have been engaged in for a very long time. as you may recall, we made an effort in the continuing resolution to make certain that the issue of air traffic control towers was addressed. the administration had announced the closing of more than 140 towers. we believe, i believe that that's contrary to public safety, and i certainly believe it's unnecessary for the administration to take the position that they are taking. and in fact the amendment that i offered, that we offered was designed to give them clearly the flexibility to avoid the closing of air traffic control towers. you may recall that i made the lea of secretary ray lahood to indicate his support for the amendment. he told me while he would l

to enter into the system. weree old days, before we worried about cybersecuritythefaawasconcerned -- considered the air traffic system a closed system. it was pretty much that way. now, as we expand the system we have more people introducing things into the system and we modernize the system. as we go to space-based, aircraft are going to become a note in an information system to do collaborative air traffic control. controllers are working with pilots and aircraft. the aircraft have a bigger picture of what is going on. as we introduce those into the closed loop, the information management system on the aircraft, that could be a way to get into the system and could compromise the system. as we open the back of the airplane up to more people using the internet then that is a possible entry into the system through the flight management system. justtleman from germany hewed an android app, how can take over an aircraft going through the automatic broadcast system, which is satellite-based air traffic control, and the flight management system. basic commands -- go here, that reroutes

. now i'll ask aboutthefaafurloughs,which started yesterday. a group of almost the entire airline industry, including air traffic controller unions, flight attendants, pilot unions, and the industry itself, have written denis mcdonough and the white house a letter saying that the faa should be granted flexibility so they don't have to furlough the air traffic controllers. what do you say to this broad coalition? they say that other agencies have been given such flexibility and they believe the faa should have the same flexibility. >> let me give you some facts. the department of transportation is required by law to cut about $1 billion between now and the end of september; $637 million of that comes from the faa. the faa has initiated a series of cost-saving measures for personnel and non-personnel related, including a hiring freeze, restrictions on travel, termination of certain temporary employees, and reductions to contracts, among other savings. but furloughs cannot be avoided. seventy percent of the faa's operations budget is personnel. the faa must furlough 47,000 employees

immigrations and forced them without being certified bythefaa. 167out of 434th flight training schools, 38% today do not have the required faa certification. unawared ice is often when they revoke certification for flight training providers. they are working with the faa to address this issue. provideurances can you about efforts to improve its communications with the faa? >> we are very far along. a newalso moving from system governing institutions that educates student visa holders. this will help solve the problem. that. get to the silent screen process. under the present system, applicants for asylum must undergo a credible interviewed to determine whether they have a credible fear of persecution in his or her county of origin. but the officer determines that they have a credible fear, the application is a long for further consideration. streamlines the process partly by allowing a screening officer to grants asylum immediately following the interview. if this were to become law, how department in sure they're adequately screen for national security threats? permit togulations confer w

'll ask aboutthefaagrahamsays he disagrees with the obama administration's decision not to prosecute the suspect as an enemy combat it. >> i understand we will have a moment of silence for the victims in boston. that is appropriate, and the president is right to lead that effort. quickly, to the families who have lost loved ones, to those breaks as a nation. to the people of boston, you make us proud by the courage you have shown. to the law enforcement officials and intelligence community, god bless you for your hard work and your bravery. iat brings me here today is have been informed that the obama administration has indicated this suspect in boston will not be treated as an enemy combatant. i strongly disagree with the obama administration's decision to rule out the combatant status for the suspect at this time. i believe such a decision is premature. it is impossible for us to gather the evidence in just a few days to determine whether or not this individual should be held for questioning under the law of war. the decision by the administration to try this individual in federal

visitor programs certification from immigrations and forced them without being certified bythefaa. accordingto g.a.o., 167 out of 434th flight training schools, 38% today do not have the required faa certification. i am told ice is often unaware when they revoke certification for flight training providers. i understand that ice is working with f.a.a. to thards issue. what updates and insurance consist you provide about ice's efforts to improve its communication with the f.a. toombings address this issue? >> i think we are very far along. by the way, senator, we're also moving from a new system governing institutions that educates student visa holders. this will help solve the problem. i will get to that. the silent screen process. under the present system, applicants for asylum must undergo a credible fear interview to determine whether they have a credible fear of persecution in his or her county of origin. but the officer determines that they have a credible fear, the application is a long for further consideration. this bill streamlines the process partly by allowing a screeni

of those who have lost loved ones or who have had a loved one who has been injured.ghtthefaahasissued a temporary flight restriction over the area. the texas commission on environmental quality is providing air monitoring and technical assistance. the texas task force one has been alerted to provide structural collapse support. the union pacific railroad has halted freight service and local authorities have turned off utility service in the area, including gas and electricity. there is an incident command center and a triage center, but they have been recently moved due to fears that additional tanks could be at risk. fema, part of the department, has been activated and stands ready to assist texas upon request. the state fire marshal's office, the texas dps, other state agencies are also responding. the american red cross is working with local emergency management to identify shelter management assistance. activated ann fema incident management assistance team. three preliminary damage assessment teams, and we're also standing by to assist in any other way . that level c,ns which is